Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has seen several serious security breaches over the past few years.
AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) - Dutch officials say a journalist gained access to protected areas at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in order to make a report about the failed bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Friday.
The Dutch journalist belonged to Algemeen Dagblad, a major daily newspaper. "This afternoon, a journalist from Algemeen Dagblad entered the protected area at Schiphol," the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee said in a statement on Monday. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is a national police force which is part of the country's armed forces.
The force said the reporter, who was not immediately named, entered the property of the airport to write a report about the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight that left Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Christmas Day, before a suspected Al-Qaeda terrorist attempted to blow himself up as it flew over the United States.
The journalist allegedly bought a ticket for a flight at Schiphol without the intention to travel. "When the journalist tried to leave the airport, border guards belonging to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee noticed he had not used his ticket," officials said. "He acknowledged it was not his intention to actually travel."
The police force said it regretted his actions. "The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee regrets that the reporter, especially during this time, proceeded to work in this manner."
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has seen several serious security breaches over the past few years.
Dutch television journalist Alberto Stegema managed twice to gain access to closed parts of the airport. In February 2008, Stegeman was able to place a fake explosive device in the luggage hold of a passenger plane. And later that year, Stegeman was able to bypass security and gain access to the royal plane used by Queen Beatrix.
It also remains unclear how Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was charged with attempting to destroy a passenger plane, was able to bring explosives on board the plane that left Schiphol.
Source: BNO News
